Atlanta holds off Seattle to escape with win

Seahawks' late FG try comes up short in loss

Associated Press

Published 12:21 am, Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Photo: Stephen Brashear

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Atlanta Falcons' Adrian Clayborn (99) runs in for a touchdown as Seattle Seahawks' Ethan Pocic gives chase after Clayborn scooped up a Seahawks' fumble in the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) ORG XMIT: SE116 less

Atlanta Falcons' Adrian Clayborn (99) runs in for a touchdown as Seattle Seahawks' Ethan Pocic gives chase after Clayborn scooped up a Seahawks' fumble in the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. ... more

Photo: Stephen Brashear

Atlanta holds off Seattle to escape with win

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Seattle

Matt Ryan threw a pair of touchdown passes, Adrian Clayborn returned a fumble 10 yards for a score and the Atlanta Falcons held off a late rally to beat the Seattle Seahawks 34-31 on Monday night.

Atlanta stayed in the hunt for an NFC playoff spot thanks to its second straight victory and handed Seattle a second consecutive home loss. Ryan threw TDs to Mohamed Sanu and Levine Toilolo, while Tevin Coleman added a one-yard TD run on Atlanta's opening possession. But it was Clayborn's fumble return that helped break open the game early in the second quarter and gave Atlanta a 21-7 lead.

Seattle attempted a late rally down by 11 points. Russell Wilson hit Doug Baldwin on a 29-yard TD with three minutes left, and Seattle got in range for a long field goal attempt by Blair Walsh in the closing moments, but his 52-yard attempt with two seconds left came up short and Atlanta escaped with the victory.

Wilson again was the entirety of Seattle's offense, throwing for 258 yards and two touchdowns, and running for another 86 yards and a TD.

But it was an awful night for the Seahawks, filled with more injuries and questionable decisions by coach Pete Carroll. He called for a fake field goal late in the first half rather than attempting a 35-yard kick. He also made a questionable challenge in the fourth quarter that didn't go his way and left Seattle with just one timeout.

That lack of timeouts came back to haunt Seattle on the final drive when seconds ticked away and rather than running one more play, Walsh was sent out to attempt the 52-yard kick. His long for the season is 49 yards.

The conclusion only amplified Carroll's baffling decision at the end of the first half, when Seattle ran a fake field goal rather than having Walsh attempt a 35-yarder that would have pulled Seattle within 24-20. Holder Jon Ryan completed his shovel pass to Luke Willson, but Grady Jarrett read the play and tackled Willson for a four-yard loss.

Seattle played without Richard Sherman. His streak of 99 consecutive starts in the regular season was halted because of a torn Achilles tendon.